The list of academic options at Oakland University is constantly
growing. OU currently offers more than 120 undergraduate degrees
and more than 120 graduate and certificate options. Students have
the opportunity to participate in high-level research as early as
their freshman year.

From important registration reminders to daily events, stay focused on the
finish line while getting the most out of your educational experience.
More than 200 active student organizations take learning to a new level,
while student service offices are here to help you succeed.

Over 100,000 alumni proudly call OU their alma mater. Upon graduation, you will
automatically be welcomed as a member of Oakland University's very active Alumni
Association. Alumni stay connected through networking, volunteering and mentorship
programs.

Nearly half a million people visit campus each year to explore OU's cultural icons,
such as the home to OU's founder, our very own National Historic Landmark. Be
inspired by guest speakers from around the world, or awed by artwork, student,
faculty and guest performances.

Your gift matters! Contributions from alumni and friends create
opportunities that prepare Oakland University students to be leaders.
Support the OU Fund (the area of greatest need), scholarships, athletics,
the library, Meadow Brook Hall, or one of the hundreds of other areas that
make Oakland unique.

The Grizzlies' growing Division I athletics program is a member of the Horizon
League, one of the NCAA's top performing leagues. Athletes can also be found in
dozens of club and intramural sports, or playing recreational games of disc or
ball golf on one of OU's courses.

Browser Warning

Your web browser is not supported!

News Archive

Monday, July 12, 2010
-
Experiential learning equips students for success from day one

When Andrew Cloutier started college, he took his studies one day at a time.

Since joining the SBA’s Applied Technology in Business program, Cloutier has devoted thought and planning to today, tomorrow and the months to come. “In the professional world, you have to make sure you meet deadlines, and you’re on time and organized,” says Cloutier, who worked on a project sponsored by Ancor Information Management Services. “I can tell I’ve really matured.”

“The biggest thing we’re seeing with employees coming out of college is it takes a little time to grasp real-world expectations,” says Ronald McGlinch, IT business manager for the Troy-based company. “In a classroom atmosphere, they’re learning theory. We get to mentor students before they graduate to give them a leg up on the competition.”

Lessons from the real world

That’s exactly what the SBA works to accomplish by integrating experiential learning opportunities into the business curriculum, ensuring graduates are prepared to succeed on the job from day one.

The ATiB program, a hallmark of the SBA since 1997, is just one way the SBA ensures students gain these valuable skills.

“The SBA’s partnerships with sponsoring organizations allow students and organizations to gain value from experiential learning opportunities over time — systemizing the experience, the impact and the results,” explains Mohan Tanniru, dean, SBA, who founded ATiB.

Since he started his internship last fall, Cloutier has been part of a team that is redesigning a payment tracking system for online use. Though he found it daunting initially to juggle the internship with classes, Cloutier says he has become more confident and organized since then. “I underestimated how much this would help me,” he says.

“I learned a lot more than I would have just taking classes,” agrees Eric Mohan, MIS ‘10, who worked for Personal Design Systems (PDS), an independent entrepreneurial organization. “Now I realize I’m a lot better at programming than I am at network management.”

Team efforts

SBA students have other options for gaining experience as well.

Through a unique summer internship program first introduced in 2009, students participate in a collective learning experience. The program groups students into small teams, along with a graduate student mentor, then connects them with a partner organization to work on a business project.

The students work on their projects, then the full group meets on Saturdays to share their knowledge and learn from other students. This group approach benefits the organization as it puts numerous minds on the task while allowing students to apply much-needed collaborative/teaming skills.

“This cumulative impact allows a team to make a deeper impact in a shorter period of time,” notes Tanniru.

The community as a classroom

Through the SBA’s CIBRE education programs, students gain real-world experience through more traditional internships and community projects.

SBA Senior Joseph Conigliaro screened and prepared low-income clients’ tax returns for the Accounting Aid Society through a community project. “I provided a service to people who were unable to afford to pay a professional to prepare their returns,” Conigliaro says.

As a marketing intern for Crittenton Hospital Medical Center, OU senior George Boulos developed a proposal to extend the hospital into the social marketing arena, putting the research, communication, presentation and implementation skills he learned in the classroom to work in the real world.

The Crittenton internship complemented the experience he gained as an intern with Oakland University athletics, Boulos says. “Athletics had a more relaxed and fun environment, while Crittenton offered a corporate experience,” he says. “It also gave me a sense of how different products and services are marketed based on the industry. Both internships gave me experience in working with a team, working individually, meeting deadlines and making formal presentations.”

Ancor’s McGlinch says these projects benefit all parties involved. “I’ve grown through Ancor’s partnership with the SBA. It’s not all about us mentoring the students,” he says. “They taught me a few things. They taught me to get back to my core experience.”

Interacting with the interns allowed McGlinch to sharpen his analytical and mentoring skills. “It’s been an all-around positive experience.”